Hi guys, I recently bought a panhead from the states, have got it registered and insured and have been on 2 very short rides.

I want to ride more but the issue I am encountering is that when I am riding along the bike simply stops, it's like the ignition is switched off.

The bike has been converted to 12 volt, has an electronic ignition, a magic box, the right coil to match.

The last time it stopped, I could not get it started again, and after two days of kickin and clutching it, it just won't go.

I have spark at the plugs, the carbie is a zenith with a pump so I can see it squirting in fuel, and the only other thing that is unusual is that the head light and tail light stopped working, although the brake light works.

Its a 64, and was running perfectly, and the first couple of times this happened, it kicked straight back into life.

 

Any ideas 

Hi Mate try pushing the starter button instead of kicking it .

If only it had one!

I have a right leg like firkin Rambo

Was running like a top, no backfiring or coughing, although I did feel like the clutch was slipping a bit as I gave it a handful down the highway, so that's worth checking, spark is good against the frame while kicking,

I have only ridden it twice so am still getting used to the quirks etc

Will do, battery is brand new, but I believe that means nothing these days

 if the battery looks older & doen't load test up good put in a new sealed type battery then you know ,   what kind of electronic ign system is it , most only have a 4-6 yr life span it has a dizzy with & electronic system ?

I know shit all about your bike, but I'm a sparky and often chase faults of one sort or another.

If you have nothing better to do, you might chase down the cause of the lights not working. It's quite coincidental that two different faults should occur at the same time. Of course, it can happen, but it may also be the one fault causing two different symptoms.

Mind you, can't begin to suggest what the fault might be....

 Well, after giving up and taking it to the bike shop, they can't get it started either..... Looks terminal !

Heres what she looks like if only she ran !

 

Start at the basics, check battery connections, had a similar thing on my car one of the battery terminal was loose.

Then I'd be using a continuity tester on on the wiring to check on the electrical connections between them all.

You haven't been playing with the timing have you?

F.A.S.T

Fuel

Air

Spark

Timing

You need all of these.

I did mess with the timing, but it has an led with a timing mark, so find top dead center, and adjust, pretty easy.

The bike shop have pulled battery out and recharged, so connections were tight...... I and they are running out of ideas

Hi guys, yep thought about timing being on exhaust stroke, however elec ignition makes it simple not to make that mistake, and the fault was thre prior to me fiddling.

Bike shop has checked the other stuff, looks like its a matter of simply chasing every wire to find a fault, something I will have to do myself as the shop have said this will be $1000 to replace wiring harness and then could be anything to chase fault..... All to probably find a bare wire under the rear fender or something equally as stupid

              Hey nice bike, had a 64 as well in the past, imo some of the best yrs for a Pan.h ave a root around and see if it it something you can't miss.If no luck consider a full rewire, will cost a bit but peace of mind is worth it 

              .Don't know where u r but in Melb there is a bloke in Coburg who does really good work he has rewired some bikes of mine and was worth every cent if u are not that flash with electrics. Had a mystery short on my shovel that sounded like yours, my earth cable from my battery had sheared and was running sometimes then  shorting, took forever to find!

               Sounds like u like the bike, consider a full rewire if u cant find was causing the problem, thren u will know its been done right and u will hve trouble free miles with r pan, all the best.

 

 

was going to say the same as johnny ..... also make sure there is no corosion on power distribution blocks .... and has your coil got a balast resistor if so cheak the coil on the resistor they can expand and earth out

MJ

hmmmmmm yes your getting spark against the frame so the balast could be the issue also is the spark chunky or a blip it could be looseing spark under compression which could mean that ya coil may be fried ..... going good till it gets hot ... then eventually it shit's itself yes also sus the coil.... it may give a small spark but it should give a nice fat spark ....

MJ

Hi guys,

Thanks to all for the tips, the bike shop had it for a couple of days and can't get it going, so I have ordered a new wiring harness, new ignition switch and new terminal block, total cost about $250, I will test all the things you have suggested and if all that fails, install the above.

Shop tested the battery and is fine, this will take me a few weeks, but I will let you know how it goes

Thanks again for your thoughts, and for the record, Jesus doesn't love me however he does have something in common with forum c*nt !

Hey guys,
Problem solved and I now have my knees in the breeze!

Turned out the electronic ignition was fucked, took it to a place called Brando built and Branco sorted it and replaced the ignition, now starts on 2nd or 3rd kick........very happy